How to completely remove advertising on Xiaomi Android smartphones: a step-by-step guide

Advertising on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones has become one of the most talked-about issues among brand users, and even after buying the device, owners face intrusive banners in system apps, notifications and on the desktop, with ad units appearing not only in free utilities like Mi Browser or Mi Music, but also in standard services like Settings, Weather or Themes.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to disable ads on Xiaomi without having to obtain root rights, from basic MIUI settings to advanced methods using ADB and third-party tools. It is important to understand that some methods may differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14) and regional build (global, Chinese, European).

Before you start settings, make sure your device is updated to the latest version of the software. In newer versions of MIUI, some of the advertising mechanisms have been reworked, so old instructions (before 2022) may not work. Also remember that some system applications (such as GetApps or Mi Video) can be critical to the operation of the device – their removal is fraught with failure.

1. disable personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to reduce the number of ad impressions is to deactivate personalization in system services. This method will not remove banners completely, but will significantly reduce their number. MIUI 12–14 on global and European firmware.

Go to Settings → Google → Advertising (on some devices, the path may look like Settings → Additional → Privacy → Advertising).

• 🔘 Disable the “Personalized Advertising” slider (this will stop collecting your preferences data).
• 🔄 Press "Reset advertising" ID" — This will reset the current targeting profile.
• 🚫 In the "Interests" section, delete all categories that the system has collected about you.

After that, the ads will become less relevant, but they won't disappear completely, like banners in Mi Browser or Mi Video, but they won't be affected by your activity.

⚠️ Note: On Chinese firmware (China) ROM) There may be no path to the ad settings, in which case use the methods in the following sections.

2. Manual disabling of advertising in system applications

Many of Xiaomi’s standard utilities have built-in ad modules that can be manually deactivated. Below is a list of the most “advertising” apps and the way to set them up. Note that the interface may vary slightly depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.).

For Weather, Calendar and Notes apps, there is no one-size-fits-all way to disable ads – only removing updates or using ADB (more on this below) will help here.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose the appropriate app (such as the weather).
3. Click on "Battery" and select "Limit background activity".
4. Turn off auto-start in the "Auto-Start" section.

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If after disabling ads in Mi Browser sites began to open slowly, clear the cache and browser data in the application settings. This will speed up the work without losing settings.

3.Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

Method ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to completely remove advertising modules from system applications without root rights. MIUI, But it requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer.

First, prepare the device:

Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on Version) MIUI In Settings → The phone)|Activate Debugging on USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers|Download. ADB Tools on PC|Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your debugging permission.-->

After preparation, open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB and enter the following commands sequentially:

adb shell


pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution # Main Advertising Module




pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop # Advertising in Mi Drop




pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser # Old browser (if any)




pm hide com.miui.analytics # Analytics (optional)

To remove ads in specific applications, use additional commands:

• 📱 pm hide com.miui.player – removes ads in Mi Video.
• 🌐 pm hide com.android.browser – disables the old browser (if installed).
• 🛒 pm hide com.xiaomi.mipicks – removes ads in GetApps.

⚠️ Note: pm hide and pm disable-user are valid until the settings are reset. MIUI Some of the modules can be restored, you have to repeat the procedure, and do not turn off system services called com.android. or com.qualcomm.

4. Removal of updates to system applications

Many ad modules appear after automatically updating standard utilities via Google Play or GetApps. The rollback to the factory version of the app often removes banners. This method works for Mi Browser, Mi Video, Themes and other preinstalled programs.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Mi Browser).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Delete Updates".
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

After the version rolls back:

• 🔒 Stop automatic updates to the app on Google Play (open the app page) → three-point → "Turn off auto-update").
• 📵 Disable notifications from the app in its settings.
• 🚫 Limit background activity (as described in Section 2).

On some models (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12 Pro) after a rollback, the Mi Browser may stop opening some sites due to an outdated engine.In this case, install an alternative browser (such as Chrome or Firefox) and make it the default application.

5. Alternative methods: Disconnection via DNS and VPN

If previous methods failed, you can block Xiaomi ad servers at the network level, using alternative DNS or VPNs with traffic filtering, which do not remove ads completely, but block banners from downloading from external sources.

Method 1: Changing the DNS

Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Private DNS and select “Private DNS Provider Host Name.” Enter one of the addresses:

• 🛡️ dns.adguard.com – Blocks Ads and Trackers.
• 🌍 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family) – filters malicious and advertising domains.
• 🔒 dns.nextdns.io – requires registration but offers flexible settings.

Method 2: VPN with ad blocking

Install one of the applications:

• 🛡️ AdGuard VPN — has a built-in ad blocker.
• 🌐 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare WARP) — free VPN traffic-filtered.
• 🔍 Blokada – Blocks ads without connecting to the VPN-server.

⚠️ Attention: Use VPN It can reduce Internet speed by 10 to 30 percent, and some banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) block the work through the Internet. VPN — Disable it when using financial services.

6. Installation of custom firmware (for advanced users)

If you're tired of advertising and the official methods don't work, you might consider installing custom firmware without ad modules, which is suitable for power users because it requires unlocking the bootloader and potentially gives up warranty.

Popular options for firmware without advertising:

• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – modified version MIUI No advertising or Chinese services, supports most models (Redmi Note 11, POCO X4 Pro, Xiaomi 12 and others.).
• 🤖 LineageOS – “clean” Android without preinstalled applications Xiaomi.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface and minimalist set of applications.

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Download the firmware from the official website (for example, xiaomi.eu) and transfer it to the phone.
4. Reboot to recovery and run the firmware with a full Wipe (Wipe → Format Data).

Advantages: no advertising, regular updates, advanced settings. disadvantages: loss of warranty, risk of "bricking" the device, possible bugs in the operation of modules (for example, NFC or IR-blaster).

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Installing custom firmware is an extreme method. If you're not sure about your skills, use the official methods from the previous sections. Remember, unlocking the bootloader resets all the data on the phone!

7.What to do if the ad returns after the update?

After the MIUI update, many settings are reset and the ads may reappear.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings → Deactivate "Downloading".
• 📵 Freeze system applications: use App Freezer (requires Xposed) or ADB-pm disable-user command to disable com.miui.systemAdSolution.
• 🔍 Check out new versions of firmware: on forums 4PDA XDA-Developers often publish lists of changes with the indication of advertising modules.

If new banner ads appear after the update, check:

1. Have you added new system applications (e.g. Mi Game Center or Mi Finance)?
2. Have you changed the way you set your ad settings (in new versions of MIUI 14, some menu items have been moved).
3. Have the permissions for ADB reset (after the update, you may need to reconnect to your PC)

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to remove ads, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

If you are not sure about your actions, first test the methods on a backup or create a backup through Settings → System → Backup. It is also useful to study feedback on forums before using ADB or custom firmware - some commands may not work correctly on specific models (for example, Redmi 10 or POCO M4 Pro).

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Before experimenting with system settings, take screenshots of all important screens (e.g. Settings → Apps or Settings → Notifications) to help quickly restore configuration if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions